College of Science and Mathematics

Research Areas

Research in the Department of Biology

The Department of Biology provides expertise in many areas of the biological sciences
ranging from the molecular to the ecosystem. Although individual faculty members differ
in their areas of interest, all recognize the constant changes occurring in the understanding
of biological processes and the increasingly integrative nature of the sciences. The
Master's degree program at Fresno State seeks to capture the dynamic character of
the biological sciences through a combination of courses and a research-based thesis.
Graduate students in the Master's program select a thesis adviser primarily based
on common interests. The thesis, however, represents the unique research interests
of each student as guided by the research adviser and thesis committee.

Faculty within the Biology Department address a wide range of questions spanning from the cellular/molecular level to the organismal/ecosystem level. Please
contact individual faculty members directly for more information about their research
programs. Our faculty have collaborated with researchers at a broad array of national and international universities and receive funding a
range of federal (e.g., National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency)
and state agencies (e.g., California Fish and Game Department, California Agriculture
and Technology Institute, California Department of Water Resources ) along with a
range of industry groups.

Student completing the M.S. degree are prepared to a diverse array of career opportunities
in the biological sciences including continuation to a Ph.D. degree. Training in the
biological sciences provides opportunities in a range of employment sectors including
government, industry, and education. Specific employment areas may include laboratory
management, quality control, environmental management and conservation, the biotechnology
industry, health care research, ecology, agricultural production and inspection, pest
control, and marine sciences among others.

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